Mixing machine



E. EGER.

M| XING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, I921.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922 v INVENTOR. ER NST E G ER H16 ATTORNEY.

inmate MAGEPZINE.

r assess.

' Application filed may it,

To all to ham it may concern Be it known that I, Esns'r Econ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of l l ayne and State of Michi an, have invented a new and useful Mixing Vlachine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the manufacture of rubber articles, mixture of the ingredients forming the com pounds employed is essential. Commonly it has been the practice to use mills, machines having cooperating" rolls between which the ingredients were squeezed until blended. These require manual supplementin An operative I has to manipulate the plastic sleeve that forms about one of the rolls. And consequently the quality of the mix depends upon the skill of the worker. Neccssarily the results obtained vary with the skill of the operatives employed. And the mills are dangerous, not infrequently the operatives are injured.

It has been endeavored to avoid the necessity of using mining mills by substituting machines that require no attention other than charging and discharging. In general these prior mechanical 'mixers employed kneading members operating in a closed or substantially closed chamber that acted variously on the batch, sometimes grinding it against the end walls, sometimes mashing it against the side walls of the chamber, and in the latter case with or Wit" out a back and forth tossing. action. So faras known however none of the prior mechanical mining machines have completely at d fully met the requirements of the trade. hey either fail to yield the requisite homogeneity or, in the case of vulcaniz-able compounds, heated up to an extent causing partial or complete vulcanization. But whatever may be the reason, their failure to meet requirements is evidenced by the prevalent use of the old mixing mills.

The present invention aims to provide a new and improved type of mixer which will. meet the requirements of the rubber trade at least and that will enable batches of stool; to be homogeneously, quickly and reliably blended and without heating, and consequent. vulcanization, at least to an intolerable e11 tent.

With the specific embodiment of the in vention illustrated in the drawings in mind, and without intent to limit the scone of the Specification of Letters Patent.

1921. serial no. teams. 1

invention more than is reofuired-by the prior art, it consists in a machine having a worni shaped rotor journalled axially in the opposite ends ot' a substantially closed'cylindrical chamber which is of about the external diameter as the bladed portion of the rotor at one end and is slightly larger than the rotor at the other end. The on the bladed rotor is preferably varied and made less at one end than at the opposite end adjacent a charging openin The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of.

one embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are left and right hand elevations respectively thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4l-4.- Fig. l, and

5 is a detailed longitudinal section of the worm-shaped rotor, showing its hollow construction.

In the drawings, the chamber or container is shown defined by a cylinder '1 and suitably stifi'ened end frames 9. and 3, which are adapted to rest upon the floor and support the cylinder at convenient height thereabove. The end frame 2, constituting what may be termed for convenience the head of the machine, is hollowed out as indicated at 4, and the cylinder is likewise hollowed out as indicated at 5. The jackets thereby a'i forded are adapted to be supplied with a heating or cooling medium such as water or steam through the supply pipe 6 and discharge pipe 7, it being understood that communication between the hollow spaces t and 5 is afforded by suitable ports 8 and 9. Journalled in the end frames 2 and 3 is a shaft .10 having thrust collars 11 and a driving; or bull gear 12 suitably fixed thereto, the latter being adapted to be driven by pinion 13 andshatt 14. But of cour. th shaft ill nay be driven in any other ctm'venieut man ner.

Within the cylinder 1, the shaft '10 has helically coiled about it blade 15, constitnt inp; worm-shaped rotor, whose pitch and diameter. both, are preferably, but not he essarily, decreased towards the head whe they are least and approach 0.

In the side of the cylinder 1, an preferably at the formed the chargin opening 16 which. isadapted to be closed b a cap 1 l' or in other suitable manner. "ll

Patented Bile-lit 2.

iilli cylinder 1, for a length approximating that of the opening 16, is formed internally with L1Xl00ifll surface indicated at 17 and the portion of the blade which traverses the same is preferably proportioned to barely clear the walls so that charged material will be clean and fed lengthwise the axis of the rotor. But from the line 18 indicating end'of the smooth surface oftlie cylinder wall to the head 2, the cylinder is rifled or grooved indicated at 19 in F l. The worm-shaped rotor is also preferably stepped as indicated at 20 to there barely clear the ribs 21 separating the grooves 19. But from the step at 20 tothe head 2, the bladed. portion of the rotor is preferably gradually diminished in pitch and diameter. Preferably, but not necessarily, the rotor 15 is of the hollow construction indicated in Fig. 5 to permit regulating its temperature by a circulated heating or cooling medium such as water that may be conveniently introduced through the tube indicated at 22, whose opening free end 23 adjacent the rear or right hand end of tlie machine, permits the medium to be circulated the full length of the rotor and exhausted from the outlet 24-, the medium being supplied through the intake indicated at 25. I

For the discharge of a batch that has been mixed an opening may be provided con veniently, preferably in the head 2, at an angle of about to the vertical as indicated at 26 in Fig. 2, this opening, being closed by a plug of any convenient construction.

operation, the discharge opening 26 beingclosed, and material having been supplied through the opening 16, the wormshaped rotor carries the ingredients axially of the cylinder, shredding it, in part at least, against the ribs 21 and progressively working it toward the head of the'machine. In the preferred construction illustrated, owing to the gradual diminution of the pitch of the blade, the greatestpressure is developed at the head 2 where the material is most eflicacious mashed or kneaded, it will spread toward the e walls oi the cylinder and c... it acciiinuilates at the head end 2 in exof the volume or space available, the

is forced to flow axially in a direcpposite the advance of the blade, either through the clearing space between the blade or the rotor and the side walls of the cylinor through the grooves 19, if they lit works backward in this manner 'eaches a point where the pressure is here it is a -tin brouoht within it :ic blade lo which of 7s conducts it again towards the head 2.

121111161, working or mixing movemess in a more or oval or elliptical path or orbit is secured.

The mixing action is very effective, does not permit any idling or floating o'fthe material in the mill, and the material is coir tinuously cut or shredded, rolled and tubed.

By suitably shaping the discharge opening 26, the completely mixed batch may be tubed out in any form desired.

While the construction above detailed is especially suitable for mining vulcanizable batches of rubber, it is not limited to such use, plastics in general being blendable therewith. But the construction is not limited to the preferred construction described, being capable of variation without departing from its principles. More or less of the. advantages of the invention may be realized with worm-shaped rotor of uniform pitch. And it is of course immaterial whether the cylinder be enlarged or the blade be reduced in diameter at the end of the mixing chamber where the greatest pressure is developed. And while the riding or grooving; of the cylinder desirable, some of the advantages ot' the invention may be realized without the channels 19. e rotor have two blades coiled opposit about its axis and of veriablepitch 10;: least at the center, as disclosed in a con .poraneously filed applica-. tion Serial l lo. 9,118, or the variable pitch of each of the t o oppositely inclined blades may be least ad acent therespective ends of the cylinder. It is to be understood therefore that the invention is broader in scope than the illustrated embodiment and reference should therefore be made to the 22600111 panying claims.

Having thus I claim and Patent i 1. A machine for mining plastic materials having in combination, a container, and

means movable described my invention what desire to protect by Letters E055 within the container for working material in a substantial oval orbit lengthwise the container.

2. A machine for mixing plastic materials having in combination an elongated substantially cylindrical chamber, and means movable within the chamber for working material in a substantial oval orbit length wise the cylindrical chamber.

3. A machine for mixing plastic materi ls including in combination, an elongated substantially cylindrical chamber, and a wormshaped rotor therein for working ineteriel in a substantial ovallengthwise the cylindrical chamber until blended.

i. A machine tor n ing rubber compositions having combination a sub stantially Cliil'llal in cross-section internallythroughout extent, and a worm-shaped rotor therein, said wornrshaped rotor and chamber being of a diameter more nearly equal at one end of the worm than at the the other'end thereof so arranged and constructed as to cause the materials to more in a predetermined endless path from one end of the chamber to the other, first=adjacent the axis of the rotor, then adjacent the walls of the chamber and so on repeatedly.

5. A machine for mixing plastic materials having in combination a cylindrical chamber provided internally with relatively shallow grooves extending substantially in the direction of its length, and a. Worm-shaped rotor therein.

6. A machine for mixing plastic materials having in combination a cylindrical chamber provided with lengthwise extending grooves, and a rotor therein having a continuously effective screw-shaped blade of less pitch at one end than at the other end the rotor. 7. A mixing machine having in combination, a cylindrical chamber, openings for permitting the charging and discharging of material into and from the chamber and a worm-rotor Whose axis is coincident with that of the chamber, the worn -rotor having screw-shaped bladedportions substantially cent a closed end of the container, said rotor and container being proportioned and.

shaped adjacent the portion of the rotor Where the pitch is least to permit flow or movement of the batch in a direction opposite to.- its advance by the blade.

it). A mixing machine having in combination, a substantially cylindrical container completely closed at one end at least I and having adjacent it" other end on openill? mg in its side, and a rotor Within said con tamer of variable pitch least adjacent the end oi the container remote "from the opening, said rotor andcontainer being proportioned and shaped at the end remote from the opening to clear the container sufficiently to permit movement of the plastic between it and the rotor and at the other end to loosely fit the container whereby to insure Wor ing and blending of thernaterial by continuous axial movement thereof in opposite directions first adjacent the axis of the rotor and then adjacent the cylindrical container beyond the sweep of the rotor.

11. A. mixing machine having in combine" tion, a substantially cylindrical chamber, in combination with, a rotor operable in said chamber, having a blade coiled helically at are least once around its axis and of a substantially zero pitchimrnediately adjacent one end. of the cylinder, the periphery of the blade'being spaced from the cylinder in the region of its low pitch to permit {low of the rnaterials adjacent the cylinder in a direc tion opposite their advance by the screw.

12. A. mixing machine having in combination, a chamber internally circular in cross section throughout its length and closed at its opposite ends, in combination with a rotor having a coiled blade of a pitch and length adapted to carry the material and mash it against one end of the cylinder, said chamber and blade being of relative diameter adjacent the end against which the material is carried permitting: return flow of the material outside the sweep of the blade and in the opposite direction to its advance whereby orbital working is achieved.

13. A mixing machine having; in combination. a chamber internally circular in cross section throughout its length and closed at its opposite ends. in combination with a rotor having a coiled blade of a pitch and length adapted to carry the material and mash it against one end of the cylinder, said chamber and blade being oi relative diameters adjacent toe end against which the material is carried permitting return flow of the material outside the sweep of the blade and in the opposite direction .to its advance whereby orbital working is achieved. said circular chamber being provided internally with lengthwise corrugations for C o-operating with the rotor to shred the material.

14:. t mixing machine having in combination. a substantially closed chamber a c 7 helically bladed rotor therein of a pitch suitable to mash and spread the batch against one end of the chamber. and spaced ribs extending substantially lengthwise the cylinder for shreddingthe material in cooperation with the rotor. said ribs in adjacent pairs defining grooves permitting the material to flow in a direction opposite. that in which it is advanced by the bladed rotor.

15. a mixing machine having in combination, a. chamber closed in operation at its oppositeends, means whereby the chamber may be charged and emptied. in combination .With a rotor having a blade whose pitch is varied and, adjacentone end of the chamher at least, whose inclination is more nearly at right angles than parallel to the axis of the rotor.

16. A mixing, machine having; in combination, a chamber closed in operation at its opposite ends, means whereby the chamber may be charged and emptied. in combination with a Worm-shaped rotor revolvable in said chamber and of such pitch and size relative the chamber as to move the material axially in one direction adjacent the rotors axis and in the opposite direction adjacent the walls of the chamber.

17. A mixing machine having in combination, a chamber closed in operation at its opposite ends, means whereby the chamber may be charged and emptied, in combination with a worm-shaped rotor revolvable in said chamber and of such pitch and size relative the chamber to move the material axially in one direction adjacent the rotors axis and in the opposite direction adjacent the walls of the chamber, and means on the interior of the chamber cooperating With the rotor to shred the material.

18. A mixing; machine having in combination a chamber closed in operation at its opposite ends, means whereby the chamber may be charged and emptied, in combination with a Worm-shaped rotor revolvable in said chamber and of a pitch and size relative the chamber for carrying the material axially in one direction adjacent the rotors axis and in the opposite direction adjacent the Walls of the chamber, and means for reducing the temperature developed in the batch during the operation of the machine.

19. A machine for mixing batches of plastic composition having in combination. a container closed at one end and a rotor revolvable therein and provided With a blade for mushrooming the material against the closed end of the container and compelling the material to travel axially of the container in opposite directions within and Without respectively the sweep of the blade.

20. A machine for mixing plastic materials having in combination, a container,

and means movable within the container for working material in a substantial ova-l orbit lengthwise the container. said container'being provided with charging and discharging openings through the latter of which the compounded batch may be ejected Without stopping the operation of the machine, said discharging opening being provided with a closure device.

21. A machine for mixing plastic materials including in combination, a substantially cylindrical chamber, and a wormshaped rotor therein for working material in a substantial oval orbit lengthwise the cylindrical chamber until blended said cylindrical chamber being provided With an outlet and closure therefor in its Wall that is opposed to the direction the rotor feeds the material, whereby a blended batch may be discharged by the rotor without neces sarily halting the operation of the machine.

' 22. A machine for mixing batches of plastic composition having in combination, a container closed at one end and a rotor revolvable therein and provided with a blade for mushrooming the material against the closed end of the container and compelling the material to travel axially of the container in opposite directions within and without respectively. the sweep of the blade, a portion of the container in its closed end being shiftable to provide an opening through which the mixed batch may be extruded by operation of the rotor. Signed at Detroit, Micln, this 5th day of May, 1921.

ERNST EGER. 

